Getting the most from what you read
Reading strategies will help you efficiently comprehend texts and identify the most important parts of your textbooks, journals, articles, or modules.
One of the greatest difficulties students have is routinely missing the point when reading.
After reading the text, can you summarize in your own words the main idea of what you just read? If not, the strategies below can help.
Remember, comprehension is the goal of your reading. This is the process you go through to pull out the meaning from what you read. The process of comprehending is both interactive and strategic - you need to know what you’re trying to accomplish before you begin.
Why are you reading?
Knowing your purpose will help with motivation and concentration, especially for those who tend to rush while reading.
| Reading Type | Speed | Purpose | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analytical | Under 100 wpm | Detail comprehension |
|
| Study reading | 150-250 wpm | High comprehension |
|
| Casual reading | 250-400 wpm | Moderate Comprehension |
|
| Accelerated reading | Above 600 wpm | Overview, rapid location of facts |
|
Once you've established your purpose, it's important to first find a place that allows you to:
- be comfortable
- minimize distractions
- set realistic reading goals
- take regular breaks.
Be flexible. Make choices about what to read and how deeply to study the material. Adjust your reading pace based on your level of understanding and comprehension.
General reading strategies
Use prior knowledge/previewing
Tap into what you already know about the subject to help you understand the text you are about to read. This provides a framework for any new information and will aid comprehension.
Predicting
Make predictions about the text you are about to read as it sets up expectations based on your prior knowledge about similar topics. As you read, mentally revise predictions as you gain more information.
Identify the main idea and summarize
Identifying the main idea and summarizing requires you to determine what is important and write it in your own words. The key to this process is ensuring you understand the author’s purpose in writing the text.
Visualize
Visualizing while reading increases your ability to recall the information you’ve read. Readers can take advantage of embedded illustrations in the text or create their own mental images or drawings when reading text without illustrations.
Teach it
A very effective strategy to determine whether you’ve grasped the main ideas of what you’ve read is to teach it to someone else.
By explaining aloud what you’ve recently read, you’ll be assisting with the transfer of the information from short-term to long-term memory, and you will have an accurate reflection of what you do and don’t understand.
Skim and scan
This is a technique used to quickly acquire specific pieces of information.
Skimming involves reading quickly over an entire piece of writing, focusing on bold or words in italics, graphs, charts, and diagrams to get a general overview of the writing. Scanning is the process of quickly reading entire sentences to get specific facts.
The SQ4R method
The purpose of the SQ4R method is to build a very detailed understanding of what you're reading, and it can be adapted to each person's study preferences. Additionally, it helps:
- reduce the amount of information that you need to learn for exams or tests
- create study materials.
The purpose is to help you understand then explain the information, and recall it from memory.
SQ4R stands for the following:
Look over the chapter. Read the subheadings, picture captions, highlighted vocabulary, etc.
- Most modules or textbooks are laid out the same.
- Review how the module/chapter is organized.
- Read the titles, objectives, bold headings.
- Review graphs, charts, maps, diagrams, or pictures.
Create questions from the titles, headings, boldface words, diagrams, and charts.
Use the five W’s" Who, What, Where, Why, When and How?
This helps focus your attention and sharpen interest in what you read.
Answer your questions as you read.
Stop frequently to check your understanding. Slow down when it's difficult, and re-read important points.
Mark up your book. Make margin notes, circle ideas, and highlight key sections.
When highlighting:
- do it after you read something
- avoid overdoing it
- remember highlighting is not the same as learning.
Take notes on things to remember. Write down key ideas and organize them in a way that makes sense to you.
Summarize these in your own words using point form.
Answer the questions you identified for yourself out loud.
You can use flashcards or reference the course learning objectives to test yourself.
Connect information to things you already know or meaningful experiences.
Quiz yourself.
Practice answering questions within a set time limit.
You can work with a study buddy if needed.
Courtesy OSLIS Secondary Videos
Remember, when reading feels tough:
- read it again
- read it aloud
- stand up and move around
- ask your instructor or classmates for help
- find a tutor
- use another text or resource.
Contact us
Learning Skills Services
Lamb Learner Success Centre, MC221, Stan Grad Centre
-
Phone - 403.284.8082
-
Email - learning.skills@sait.ca
-
Monday - Friday | 8am - 4pm
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.